Cartridge syringe

ABSTRACT

A syringe adapted to inject substantial amounts of medicament, the syringe comprising a cylindrical holder having a tapered neck at one end with a central through-bore while the other end is open and provided with a peripheral flange. A cannula assembly is affixed to the tapered neck of the holder and the cannula needle extending through the bore in the holder so that one end of the needle is outside and the other within the holder. The needle has a through-bore with its outer end open and its inner end closed, the needle portion within the holder being provided with a side aperture for communication with the outside. An ampoule is slidably positioned in the holder with its end adjacent and spaced from the needle being provided with an aperture having a pierceable seal and its other end provided with a piston with the medication located therebetween. A latch cap having depending step-wise latches fits over the piston end of the ampoule to retain it within the holder by having the latches engage the holder flange. The latch cap has a central aperture to allow passage therethrough of a plunger threadedly secured to the piston for use in aspirating and injecting the medication.

United States Patent 1191 Sarnoff CARTRIDGE SYRINGE [75] Inventor: Stanley J. Sarnoff, Bethesda, Md.

[73'] A Assignee: Survival Technology Inc., Bethesda,

22 Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 21 Appl. No.1 225,200

[52] US. Cl 128/218 DA, 128/218 NV [51] Int. Cl A6lm 5/24 [58] Fieldof Search 128/2-18 D, 218 DA, 218 F,

128/218 R, 218 C, 218 NV, 218 M, 220,

215,216, 2 F, DIG. 5, 218 PA; 206/43, 63.2

Great Britain 128/220 111 3,811,441 1451 May 21, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. CI McGowan Attorney, Agent, orFirrh-Witherspoon and Lane 5 7] ABSTRACT A syringe adapted to inject substantial amounts of medicament, the syringe comprising a cylindrical holder having a tapered neck at one end with a central through-bore while the other end is open and provided with a peripheral flange. A cannula assembly is affixed to the'tapered neck of the holder and the cannula needle extending through the'bore in the holder so that one end of the needle is outside and the other within the holder. The needle has a through-bore with its outer end open and its inner end closed, the needle portion within the holder being provided with a side aperture for communication with the outside.'An ampoule is slidably positioned in the holder with its end adjacent and spaced from the needle being provided with an aperture having a pierceable seal and its other end provided with a piston with the medication located therebetween. A latch cap having depending step-wise latches fits over thepiston end of the ampoule to retain it within the holder by having the latches engage the holder flange. The latch cap has a central aperture to allow passage therethrough of a plunger threadedly secured to the piston for use in aspirating and injecting the medication 1 Claim, 3 Ilrawing Figures 1 1 CARTRIDGE SYRINGE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is today more than ever a large need for hypodermic syringes having relatively large capacities, for e a qtitt the Qrd 9 ,0.-, Ia .add t nttl t it t mustbe economical and quite easy to use. This immediately suggests a device having disposable cartridges and cannula needle. Further the unit should be stowable for a rather lengthy time without loss of effectiveness. It is with the above in mind that the syringe assembly of this invention has been developed.

In view of the above, it is an object of this invention to provide a hypodermic syringe having a substantial capacity and further having a disposable cartridge assembly and cannula needle assembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a syringe comprising a holder, a cannula assembly in one end and an ampoule slidably carried in the holder and wherein a sealing means is provided between the holder and the ampoule adjacent the end opposite the needle to form hermetic sealing for the cannula end within the holder.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a syringe as above wherein a latch cap having stepped latching means is provided to retain the ampoule in fixed position in the holder.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a syringe as in the foregoing objects and wherein the cannula needle has a closed end within the holder and an open end outside the holder with a side opening in the cannula within the holder.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded perspective view illustrating the components of the syringe;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the syringe as it is stored; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the syringe in condition for ejection of the medicament.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring particularly to FIG. 1 which is an exploded view of the syringe showing in detail each element thereof. the syringe comprises a holder 12 having a cylindrical barrel 14 with a tapered neck 16 at one end and a peripheral flange 18 at the open end 20. The holder is also provided with outwardly extending finger grips 22 and 24.

An ampoule assembly 26 is slidably carried in the holder 12, said ampoule assembly comprising a cylindrical body 28 having an apertured end 30 closed by a resilient plug 32. The other end of the body is open and slidably receives a piston 34 which has a threaded opening 36. A latch cap 38 engages the edge of the open end of ampoule body 28 and by virtue of its latches 40-40 which engage flange l8 serves to retain the ampoule 26 in the holder. A plunger 44 passes through opening 46 in the latch cap 38 and is connected to the piston 34 by engagement of threaded plunger end 48 with the piston threaded opening 36.

A cannula needle assembly 50 is affixed to the tapered end of the holder 12 and is protected by a sheath 52.

Looking at the invention in more detail, reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the cylindrical holder barrel 14 has a tapered end 16 with an axially extending through-bore 17 providing communication between the inside and outside of the holder at that end. The other and open end 20 of the holder barrel is provided with a peripheral locking flange 18 which in this instance is somewhat square in cross section. The inner surface 21 of the holder barrel is provided with a sealing means in the form of an annular bead 23 extending completely around theinner surfaceof the holder barrel near the open end 20.

An ampoule assembly 26 is slidably carried within the holder barrel 14 and includes a closed end 30 having an aperture closed by a resilient plug 32 which is held in place by resiliently gripping the peripheral edge 31 of the aperture. The cylindrical body 28 is open at the end opposite the plug 32 and slidingly receives piston 34 having a pair of peripheral ribs 35--35 which engage the inner surface 29 of the holder body 28. The

piston 34 is also provided with a threaded hole 36. The.

outer surface 33 of the holder body 28 is sized to snugly engage-a sealing head 23 so as to form an air tight space defined by the sealing head 23 at one end and the tapered holder end 16 at the other and bounded by the outer surface 33 of the ampoule body 28 and the inner surface 21 of the holder barrel l4.

A latch cap 38 is employed to hold the ampoule 26 in position within the holder 12. More particularly, the

latch cap 38 includes a circular body 39'having a central hole 46 and an inner planar face 41..A pair 'of latches 4040 extend from the latch body 39, each latch having a pair of spaced catches 42 and 43 adapted to selectively engage the locking flange 18 on the holder barrel 14.

A plunger 44 is sized to pass through aperture 46 in the latch cap body 39 and to be attached to piston 34 by means of its threaded end 48 which is threadedly received in threaded hole 36 invthe piston.

The cannula needle assembly 50 comprises a cannula needle 54 affixed to tapered sleeve 56 which is sized to fit on the tapered end 16 of the holder barrel 14. The tapered end 16 is provided with-an axial through-bore 17 through which the needle 54 extends. The cannula needle itself has an open end 55 extending outwardly beyond the sleeve 56 and a closed end 57 within the end portion of the holder. In order to transmit medicament, since the cannula has a closed inner end, there is provided a side opening 59. In assembling the needle sleeve 56 onto the tapered end 16 a seal and cushion 60 may be placed therebetween.

In use the ampoule 26 with the medicament therein, between the piston 34 and the plug 32, is inserted in the holder barrel 14 with the plug end of the ampoule spaced from the inner closed end 57 of the cannula needle 54. As previously described, a seal is provided by sealing bead 23 which snugly engages the outer surface of the ampoule body 28, thus the space forward thereof is maintained in sterile condition. As indicated in FIG. 2, after the ampoule has been inserted in the holder barrel, the latch cap 38 is brought into engagement with the ampoule body. More specifically, the inner face 41 of the latch body 39 engages the upper edge 62 of the ampoule body 28. Pressing on the latch cap 38 causes the ampoule body to move forward and allows the latch catches 4343 to engage the locking flange 18 on the holder barrel 14 to present the syringe in condition for storage and ready use.

. ampoule body 28causes the closed end 57 of the cannula needle to pierce the resilient plug 32 and proceed to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the needle side opening 59 is within the ampoule so that the cannula is in communication with the medicament.

With the syringe in this condition, the cannula needle 54 may be inserted into the locus which is to receive the medicament. If aspiration is required, the plunger 44 may be retracted so that the piston 34 assumes the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. After which the plunger may be moved forward to inject the medicament.

The syringe unit as described above has a number of advantages and innovations over the prior art. It should be noted that the ampoule 26 at its forward closed end is not provided with the usual piston seal arrangement for engaging the inner surface of the holder barrel l4. ln'orde'r to achieve therequired seal, an annular head 23 is formed on the inner surface 2-1 of the barrel 14 to engage the outer surface 33 of the ampoule body 28. The seal 23 is positioned adjacent the open end of the 1 holder barrel, thus the entire space forward of theseal is maintained in air tight condition.

The latch cap has a particularly advantageous arrangement for maintaining the ampoule in its two-step position within the holder. As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the lowermost catches 43 of the latches 4040 engage flange 18 to retain the ampoule 26 in position within the holder so that the closed end of the ampoule is slightly spaced from closed end '57 of the cannula needle 54. With the unit in this position, the upper edge 62 of the ampoule body 28 abuts the inner face 41 of the latch cap 38 to hold the ampoule in position. Should the medicament expand during storage, travel of the piston 34 will be limited by the inner face 41 of the latch cap, thus assuring that there will be no leakage during storage.

When the syringe unit is prepared for use, the cannula shield 52 is removed and the latch cap 38 pressed forward to cause the ampoule 36 to likewise move forward so that the cannula 54 pierces the plug 32 so that communication between the medicament in the ampoule and the outside by way of the cannula is provided. Catch 42 engages locking flange 18 to maintain the unit in ready position, if it is necessary to aspirate, withdrawing of the piston 34 to the dotted line position as illustrated in H0. 3 will present no problem since the ampoule body is firmly held in place by the latch cap.

The latch cap and holder assembly are generally made of a plastic material which will have some flexibility, while the ampoule body 28 is generally made of glass, although such is not required. The ampoule and cannula assembly may both be of the disposable type.

In view of the foregoing, it is now apparentthat the syringe unit of this invention has achieved the objects and goals set forth in the early part of this application.

I claim:

l. A syringe comprising in combination,

a holder comprising a cylindrical barrel, said barrel having a tapered neck at one end substantially closing said end, said tapered neck having a centrally extending small through-bore, the other and open end of the barrel having an integral locking flange extending peripherally and outwardly therearound,

latch cap fitting over the open end of the ampoule cylindrical body, said latch cap comprising acircular base having a central opening. therethrough, said base having a flatinner face engaging the edge of the open end of the ampoule body, a pair of oppositely disposed latches extending from thelatch cap base over the ampoule-body and engaging the locking flange on the holder barrel to retain the ampoule in position within the holder, each latch having first and second longitudinally spaced catches, each catch being adapted to engage the locking flange, the first catch being spaced a greater distance from the flat inner face of the cap base than the second catch, I

a cannula assembly affixed to the closed end of the holder, said assembly comprising a tapered cannula hub, a cannula extending through and secured to said hub, the cannula hub fitting over and secured to the tapered neck of the holder barrel, said cannula having an open end extending outwardly of the hubwith the remainder of said needle extending through the through-bore in the holder necked portion into the interior of the holder barrel, the needle end in the barrel being closed, said needle having a lateral opening adjacent its closed end, the ampoule being positioned within the holder barrel so that the resilient plug in its closed end is spaced from the closed end of the cannula, said ampoule being held in such position by means of the latch cap and the sealing means wherein the open end edge of the ampoule body engages .the inner flat face of the latch base and the first catch of each latch engages the locking flange, further when the medicament is to be ejected the latch cap is pushed in the direction of the cannula whereby the second catches engage the locking flange to hold the ampoule in a position wherein the cannula has pierced the resilient plug and the side opening in the cannula is in communication with the medicament in the ampoule whereupon the piston may be moved toward the cannula to inject the medica- -ment.

in a in in 

1. A syringe comprising in combination, a holder comprising a cylindrical barrel, said barrel having a tapered neck at one end substantially closing said end, said tapered neck having a centrally extending small through-bore, the other and open end of the barrel having an integral locking flange extending peripherally and outwardly therearound, an ampoule slidably fitted Within the barrel, said ampoule comprising a cylindrical body having a reduced opening at one end thereof, a resilient plug closing said opening, a piston slidably positioned in the body near the other open end of the body and in sealing relation thereto, a medicament in the ampoule between the closed end and the piston, sealing means integral with the inner face of the holder barrel adjacent its open end and frictionally engaging the entire periphery of the ampoule body, a latch cap fitting over the open end of the ampoule cylindrical body, said latch cap comprising a circular base having a central opening therethrough, said base having a flat inner face engaging the edge of the open end of the ampoule body, a pair of oppositely disposed latches extending from the latch cap base over the ampoule body and engaging the locking flange on the holder barrel to retain the ampoule in position within the holder, each latch having first and second longitudinally spaced catches, each catch being adapted to engage the locking flange, the first catch being spaced a greater distance from the flat inner face of the cap base than the second catch, a cannula assembly affixed to the closed end of the holder, said assembly comprising a tapered cannula hub, a cannula extending through and secured to said hub, the cannula hub fitting over and secured to the tapered neck of the holder barrel, said cannula having an open end extending outwardly of the hub with the remainder of said needle extending through the through-bore in the holder necked portion into the interior of the holder barrel, the needle end in the barrel being closed, said needle having a lateral opening adjacent its closed end, the ampoule being positioned within the holder barrel so that the resilient plug in its closed end is spaced from the closed end of the cannula, said ampoule being held in such position by means of the latch cap and the sealing means wherein the open end edge of the ampoule body engages the inner flat face of the latch base and the first catch of each latch engages the locking flange, further when the medicament is to be ejected the latch cap is pushed in the direction of the cannula whereby the second catches engage the locking flange to hold the ampoule in a position wherein the cannula has pierced the resilient plug and the side opening in the cannula is in communication with the medicament in the ampoule whereupon the piston may be moved toward the cannula to inject the medicament. 